The Georgia Youth Ballet Company, under the direction of Magdalena Maury, is preparing for an exciting spring performing season. The company and it's newly formed Children's Ensemble performed last Friday at Temple Kol Emeth in Marietta. Their piece, "Remember", a haunting tribute to the children lost during the Holocaust, was part of the temple's commemoration of the anniversary of the Ghetto uprising in Warsaw, Poland.

At the end of the month, 42 dancers, teachers and chaperones will head to Greenville, SC for the Southeast regional ballet Festival. This four day event will feature classes from internationally renowned teachers from the National Ballet of Toronto, Julliard School in New York City and England. The company members have been chosen to perform three ballets including; "Trilogy" by Magdalena Maury, "Lycosa" by modern choreographer Karen Schatten-Lock and "Contrapuntistica" by Patricia Olalde through a grant received by the Louisville Ballet Company.

In May, the GYB will welcome world renowned master teacher from New York, Finis Jhung. Mr. Jhung is a highly sought after instructor in the art and has appeared on Broadway, television and has his own instructional videos. He teaches at the Broadway Dance Center in New York City and will conduct an eight hour workshop for the advanced company members and guests.

The Georgia Youth Ballet will hold their annual Spring Concert on June 12 with an exciting repertoire this year including: "Paquita", "Graduation Ball", "Don Quixote Pas de Deux", and "Blue Bird Pas de Deux". Graduating members Sara Hall, Kelley Johnson and Mary Ann Staib will be honored in their last performance with the company as they head for the University of Georgia as Dance majors. Mary Ann Staib won the only freshman dance scholarship offered for the year. Kelley Johnson received an academic and dance scholarship to Huntington College but elected to stay in Georgia. Sara Hall chose UGA over FSU as she was one of the few selected for the dance program in both schools.

During the summer months, the GYB will host a summer intensive workshop with Russian and Cuban teachers including Vladimir Issaev, Laura Alonso, Magda Aunon, Carol Szkutek and Magali Suarez. A performance of "Copelia" will be held at the termination of the camp at the newly renovated Sams Auditorium. It will be held July 9 at 7:30 p.m. and will be free to the public. Then company members and Ms. Maury will be off to take classes at American ballet Theater, Joffrey Ballet and with specific teachers throughout the city.

"I can't wait to take class with Mikhail Baryshnikov," said Raegan Jackson, a senior company member, "I can't believe I'll be in the same studio with him!" Ashley Wooton is also very excited. "Dancing in New York is what we all dream about," she said, "Not only do we get to take classes and go to performances, but we also will be able to see Broadway shows and plays."

Ms. Maury's student, Elizabeth Gaither, a dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, is recommending teachers for the students to take class with. "Beth takes classes daily in New York and knows where the most challenging classes are," said Maury. "I want my students exposed to the best New York has to offer."

The GYB has had a tremendous year. They received several grants including ones from the Georgia Council for the Arts, the Fayette County Endowment Committee for Cultural Arts, from Louisville Ballet, a generous anonymous donor and the Priston Company in Virginia. Dancers from GYB have received scholarships this year for the Milwaukee Ballet, Harid Conservatory, Burklyn Ballet, and others. For information on performances or programs offered by the Georgia Youth Ballet contact Magdalena Maury at 770-716-9858. The Georgia Youth Ballet is a nonprofit organization and Fayette County's only member of the Southeast Regional Ballet Association.

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